Casket lowering device



March 1 1932.

w. s. WILHELM, SR 1,347,157

CASKET LOWERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1929 M /Q W Patented Mar, 1, 1932 UNITED STATES WALTER S. WILHELM, 83., OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA:

CASKET LOWERING DEVICE Application filed August 14, 1929. Serial No. 385,752.

My invention relates to a casket lowering device, and one of the objects is to provide such a device so that the casket can be placed on it at a distance from the open grave, either at the end or the side thereof, and then rolled forward or backward over the grave into position for lowering the casket into the grave. used are provided only with a shell at each corner which rests upon the ground around the open grave.

Some of the advantages of my device are:

(1) Its use permits the funeral director to hide the open grave with banks of flowers before the arrival of the family of the deceased,

ecause the pall-bearers do not-have to approach close to the grave.

(2) Its use avoids the danger of caving in the walls of the open grave. This occasionally happens because of the excessive weight of the pall-bearers added to the weight of the casket.

(3) Its use permits the pall-bearers to stand upright at all times as they deposit the casket upon the truck lowering device at a distance from the open grave, so that they avoid the strain of bending over the open grave while letting the casket down upon the lowering device. They can even allow their feet to go under the device to help keep their equilibrium. This is impossible with the devices now in use, as this would break the edge of the grave and cause the pall-bear er to slip into thegrave.

(4) Its use permits the employment of old men or children safely as pall-bearers because the strain is less than when the usual device is used. 1

Referring to the drawings for a more complete disclosure of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the casket lowerlng device;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the caster trucks;

Fig. 4.- is a fragmentary section showing the means for attaching the truck to the bell.

The casket lowering device consists of the customary transverse members 10, and longitudinal members 11 and the straps 12 on Gasket lowering devices as at presentwhich the casket rests and by means of which it is lowered into the grave. Ateach corner are the customary shells 13, provided with 'ianged bottoms 14, which rest directly upon the ground. Through the flanges of these 65 shells are holes 15 adapted to receive headedv bolts16 for holding in position the trucks 17. Various suitable forms of trucks may be employed, but in the form shown there is provided a pedestal 18 provided with a flanged head=l9, arcuate slots 22 in the head engaging the bolts 16, and wing nuts 20 tightly securing the trucks in adjusted position. The arc of the slots 22 is 90 degrees, so that the'adjusted positions of the trucks normally per- .mit of rolling the lowering device either lengthwise or sidewise. The wheels 21 will he usually 3-6 inches in diameter withsolid rubber tires. They will roll on a grooved track or any smooth surface, as a floor of planking; or they may be supplied with flanged wheels toroll on ordinary rail tracks. lVith a construction of this type the casket can ride over adjacent grave mounds, surface irregularities, head stones, etc. One or more of the corner trucks may be provided with a lock or brake.

I claim:

In a casket lowering device, a bell at each corner provided with a flange, a wheeled truck for each bell provided with a flanged head, arcuate slots through the flanged head, bolts passing through the said slots and flange to secure each truck in diflerent adjusted positions to permit the device to roll length- 35 wise or sidewise of the said device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER S. WVILHELM, SR. 

